SOUTHWICK – An anonymous $1.5 million Christmas gift will improve current financial conditions and help shape the future of Christ Lutheran Church here.

Pastor Jeffrey King reported Wednesday the church has received a gift of $500,000 with a pledge to match up to $1 million in funding raised by the congregation over the next three years.

“The donor wishes to remain anonymous and I have never personally met this individual,” King said. But, the Pastor did explain that he has had “several” telephone conversations with the donor over the past seven or eight years. The donor resides in “another region of the country.”

“He called and told me he was impressed with the mission of our church and especially our two child care centers,” said King.

“This person has never been to our church, has never sent money in the past and has not visited our Open Arms Childhood Centers,” he added. “He believes in our vision and wants us to be successful,” King said of the gift.

“This will take a big burden off our backs,” said King, noting the church carries a $4 million mortgage.

“The church has not suffered because of the economy but our childhood centers have. If we succeed in meeting the $1 million challenge it will cut our debt in half,” King, pastor since 1986, said.

Income from tuition at the two childhood centers is used to pay the mortgage and other building expenses, King said, adding that the economy and unemployment has reduced revenue income in recent years.

The Southwick Open Arms Childhood Center, located adjacent to Christ Lutheran Church on College Highway currently enrolls 115 children. The Open Arms center in Springfield has an enrollment of 47 children.

The church has been located at 568 College Highway here since 1963. The current church building opened in 2000 with the first Open Arms Childhood Center. Since then a diner, the Daily Grind has opened on the church campus.

The church has more than 1,200 members who reside in Southwick and surrounding communities.